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Supply chain efficiency is critical for COVID-19 vaccine
There are many supply chain links with the COVID-19 vaccine, which means the potential for something going wrong is greater. Efficiency and security are more important than ever.
The journey of the COVID-19 vaccine – from the factory to the needle injected into a patient – is not immune to breaks in the supply chain.
John Saldanha knows firsthand from his time in the Merchant Marines and at Dole Food Company anything can, and likely will, go wrong before a product or service reaches its desired destination: the consumer.
At Dole, he monitored 500 containers of bananas daily to ensure they stayed within a temperature of around 57 degrees. If it wandered outside that range, he’d have to open the containers and destroy the contents.
The distribution of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine requires similar care, in that it needs kept at a certain temperature – minus 94 degrees, to be exact, before the thawing process.
There’s more links to the chain with the COVID-19 vaccine, explained Saldanha, Sears chair in global supply chain management and associate professor at the West Virginia University Chambers College of Business and Economics.
More than 22 million doses of vaccines, one produced by Pfizer and one by Moderna, have been distributed across the country since early December. From a broad view, Saldanha sees four key elements to the vaccine supply chain: Facilities, transportation, information and inventory. The mobilization to get people vaccinated for a virus that has killed more than 374,000 Americans depends on factory workers, storage facilities, drivers/pilots, freezers, dry ice, needles, masks, swabs, public health officials and, of course, medical personnel. It’s a lot of moving parts, which means more room for error.
“This is a historic case study and a new era of supply chain management,” Saldanha said. “It’s a new level of transparency, information availability and coordination.”
Unlike other vaccines, such as for the flu, the challenges of storing, transporting and administering these doses are multifaceted and untested.
Shelf life is a big variable. Pfizer’s vaccine lasts 30 days at the recommended glacial temperature of minus 94. This is where dry ice comes in handy, Saldanha said, but even that has potential complications. Vaccines leave the factory packaged in cases of dry ice and are taken to storage locations. Hospitals and many pharmacies have specialized freezers for items that must be kept super cold.
But if a shipment must be transported on a flight, that’s where things get dicey.
“Dry ice can be hazardous, and only a limited amount can be on airplanes,” Saldanha said.
The vaccine does not remain at the minus 94-degree temperature for the entire duration. Before being administered, it must thaw in a more conventional freezer to around minus 5 or 10 degrees for five days, Saldanha said. Once the vial is opened, it must be used within six hours and diluted with 0.9% sodium chloride.
“You’ve got to plan out how you’re going to provide these doses to patients,” Saldanha said. “There are big differences in this supply chain compared to the flu vaccine. There are multiple steps and each step must be executed on time. The flu vaccine is just sitting there waiting and ready for people to show up at the pharmacy or doctor and say, ‘Hey, I’m ready for my flu shot today.’”
Roads of uncertainty
Despite the countless hours of logistical planning on behalf of supply chain experts, factors beyond their control have led to delays in shipments in some parts of the country.
Vaccines have arrived late or in smaller quantities than expected, due to a combination of weather or lack of manpower somewhere along the chain.
Several thousand doses of vaccine in California and Alabama had to be sent back to Pfizer in mid-December after hiccups in the transportation process.
Saldanha said companies are using GPS-enabled thermal sensitive devices to track each container along its journey.
Major delivery and supply companies are all involved in the transport.
But when plans veer off track, the government should be able to step in because emergency stockpiles should be waiting in the wings, Saldanha said.
“If anything should go wrong like, for example, a major snowstorm that disrupts delivery, the government should be able to tap into a stockpile,” he said. “There should be backups to backups to backups. It’s called contingency planning.”
In order to establish herd immunity, health experts estimate that at least 70 percent of the world population must be inoculated with the vaccine.
“We’re looking at, at least four to five billion people,” Saldanha said. “DHL said that will take 15,000 fights, 200,000 pallet shipments and 15 million cooling boxes over two years. That’s the scale of the situation. Those are the things that need managed at the required quality because we’re talking about people’s lives, all of us collectively.”
Original content can be found at Plant Engineering.


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- Apple CEO Tim Cook.
- Mike Blake/Reuters
Apple Music has been growing faster than Spotify in the
US, and as a result it might overtake the leading music
streaming service later this year.
The figures are not representative of worldwide trends,
however, as Spotify is still leading with almost twice as many
Apple Music also has more users enrolled in its
pre-subscription trial period, but Spotify counts a larger
number (140 million) of monthly users who choose to listen for
free with ads.
Apple's music subscription service is high on the heels of
Spotify, and it might just be about to overtake it in the US.
new report from The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) claims Apple
Music has been growing monthly subscribers at a much faster pace
when compared to its Swedish rival - 5% versus 2%.
With this growth rate, Apple would count more US-based paying
subscribers than Spotify by the summer.
The US is not a representative market, as worldwide figures still
give Spotify a huge lead, with almost twice as many subscribers.
Spotify has 70 million, as of last month, while Apple told the
newspaper it has 36 million paying subscribers.
There is also another metric that music labels are interested in
beyond subscribers and monthly active users, and that is how many
people have signed up for free or deeply discounted trials, which
often lead up to full subscriptions.
The WSJ is reporting that a person familiar with the figures told
them that Apple has "three to four times" the number of such
users, which in turn could lead to a massive boost of full
Unlike Spotify, Apple Music does not have an ad-based, free-tier
option. It also has an automatic three-month free period at the
beginning of each subscription, which naturally inflates the
Revenue for Apple's services arm, which includes
Apple Music, was up 18% in the company's latest quarter.
Spotify, on the other hand, is reportedly
going to go public sometime later this year.

domain: news


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Best Eco-Friendly Business
415 Medford St., (617) 702-2811
Winter Hill resident Matt Gray opened Neighborhood Produce last November to meet a need he saw in his community: access to healthy grocery options without needing a car.
Customers return to the store week after week, Gray says, giving it the community feel he’d hoped for.
One of the main reasons people come to the store is because it’s really easy to not make grocery shopping a source of waste at Neighborhood Produce. First, there’s the bulk food section, which customers tell Gray is a big draw. There are the bulk foods you’d expect—nuts, beans, rice, dried fruit, grains—but also foods that are more unusual for bulk sections, like coffee, oatmeal, spices, and tea.
Neighborhood Produce sells reusable spice jars for $1, which Gray says many customers choose to buy. They then return week after week and refill the spice jars with whatever they need.
While many people bring their own bags for the bulk food section, Neighborhood Produce offers paper bags—which are more environmentally friendly than the typical plastic.
Neighborhood Produce also sells milk in glass bottles, and Gray says that people bring back virtually all of the bottles.
“The milk bottles have been very popular … being able to get milk in a bottle or bulk in your own container, along with it being in your neighborhood and being able to walk to it,” Gray says. “You’re really reducing the carbon footprint and the amount of waste associated with getting groceries down near zero.”
The store also gives a second life to some “number two produce”—fruits and vegetables that are deemed too visually unappealing to sell, and are typically destined for processed foods, animal feed, or a trash can.
Gray’s commitment to environmentally friendly grocery shopping extends beyond the customer’s experience. In addition to the ways he’s made it easy for shoppers to reduce their waste, Neighborhood Produce is careful about its waste as well. Gray donates most of the store’s leftover food to the Elizabeth Peabody House and Food Link, and the rest is composted.
“We pretty much zero waste coming out of the store,” Gray says. “I think it’s something that appeals to people.”


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Smuckers manufacturing facility coming to Jefferson County
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - Smuckers will be building a manufacturing and distribution center in McCalla, and will be looking to hire 750 workers. The company, which is famous for its peanut butter and jelly, will be investing $1.1B into building their operation, which will be the largest investment ever in Jefferson County.
The company will manufacture their ‘Uncrustable’ sandwiches, which have grown in demand. Thursday, the Jefferson County Commission approved a tax incentive package, giving Smuckers tax breaks for jobs over $50,000. The average salary will be about $52,000.
The company has purchased 225 acres at the JeffMet Industrial Complex in McCalla. A Smuckers project director says Jefferson County was chosen because of the tax incentives, work ethic and business climate. The county was in competition with about 50 other areas.
“Our whole economic push here is to bring jobs here. Not only jobs but above average wage. If you have more spending opportunities, to have more sale tax as they buy bigger and better houses. Schools do better. It’s a huge overall impact,” said Jefferson County Commissioner Steve Ammons.
A groundbreaking will happen soon. The company hopes to have construction going in January of next year. Production looks to start in 2025. They hope to start taking a look at job hiring in 2023.
Copyright 2021 WBRC. All rights reserved.


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RETAIL AND LEISURE
Following the launch of 29 beauty halls last year Boots has revealed plans to launch an additional 60 revamped beauty halls across their stores in the UK. It also saw the retailer launch 15 new beauty brands and remove the traditional beauty counters seeing new fittings which included open furniture and trend-driven zones, play stations, discovery areas and live demonstration zones.
Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG) has revealed plans to kick-start their ‘very ambitious’ UK expansion by looking to work with potential partners. Having signed a master franchise agreement in 2018 the company has opened six restaurants as well as converting several of its existing Giraffe and Ed’s Easy Diner sites to the brand.
SME lender ThinCats has agreed a seven-figure funding deal with burrito bar El Mexicana which will allow the business to acquire new sites and modernise facilities with self-service kiosks. Established in 2011, El Mexicana is aiming to expand from the 17 existing sites to 22 in the next two years.
Crown Partnership, who bought fried chicken chain Bird out of administration last year, have opened a 40-cover site in London’s Brixton, the first of several planned for 2020. Signature dishes such as chicken and waffles with honey butter and Canadian maple syrup will be served alongside several new meat-free options.
The Covent Garden estate is to see a selection of new retailers opening: Jigsaw is upsizing from their current Floral Street store into Grade II listed Carriage Hall. American Vintage is also opening a flagship site in the Summer. Parisian label A.P.C. opened last month and British independent brands Strathberry and Lulu Guinness will open in the Market Building and King Street respectively.
Toy and novelty gift retailer Hawkin’s Bazaar has gone into administration leaving around 180 jobs at risk. Founded and headquartered in Norwich in the 1970’s the company operates 20 stores across the UK and Ireland which will continue to trade until further notice with clearance discounts and other promotions.
All 18 of Handmade Burger Co.’s restaurants have closed following owners The Burger Chain going into administration for the 2nd time as attempts to secure a sale failed. Having fallen into administration back in 2017 the business was able to continue trading as a buyer was found for 20 of the 29 sites, unfortunately the closure of the remaining restaurants has now resulted in 283 job losses.
Following a surge in sales thanks to the rising demand for ethical, sustainable and healthy products, grocery retailer Planet Organic has announced plans to extend its portfolio from 7 stores to 18 within the next 5 years.
The 40-storey Quay House redevelopment in Canary Wharf has been granted planning permission and will see Rockwell and Firethorn Trust start work on the site later this year. The development will offer a 400-bedroom hotel, 279 serviced apartments alongside dockside leisure facilities.
The City of London Corporation’s Planning and Transportation Committee has approved plans for the mixed-use development in London’s Holborn submitted by Dominvs Group. The 11-storey development will have a 39,826 sq ft ‘green wall’ that will generate seven tonnes of oxygen and extract nine tonnes of CO2 annually. The 382-bed hotel will be built alongside a 40,267 sq ft of office space and a landscaped public roof garden.
in other news…..
Tesco have pledged to remove 350 tonnes of plastic working with the likes of Heinz and Green Giant to remove plastic wrapping from its multipack tins: Adidas has pledged to sustainably source more than half of the polyester materials it uses by 2024 resulting in the production of 15 to 20 million pairs of shoes made from plastic waste; Sainsbury’s has pledged to invest £1 billion towards making its operations ‘net zero’ by 2040 a decade earlier than the UK’s legal goal. To be achieved through reducing carbon emissions, food waste, plastic packaging and water usage the plan will also see an increase in recycling, biodiversity and healthy and sustainable eating; Just Eat have agreed a nationwide deal with McDonald’s to become their second exclusive delivery partner following the recent agreement with Greggs; Ikea have announced that its home assembly service will be rolled out across 27 UK sites to help their ‘busy’ customers. The service is in partnership with online marketplace TaskRabbit.


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In recent years, we saw several startups emerging in the ever-growing electric two-wheeler market with their innovative, unique models. One of these is Pepper Motorcycles, a Swiss startup geared towards the development and production of lightweight electric motorcycles.
The recently unveiled Pepper electric two-wheeler is a cross between the motorcycle and the bicycle and is optimally tailored to city traffic. While Pepper Motorcycles has yet to roll out a specific production-ready product in the market, they have this prototype that looks incredibly hip and stylish.
Designers took inspiration from classic cafe racer-style motorcycles to shape their first electric motorcycle. It consists of a classic-style leather seat in brown, which contrasts with the satin color of its tail, and a vintage-style faux gas tank that hides the electronics. The chromed-out dual coil-over shocks match the front suspension fork nicely and contrast with the matte black exposed frame. Besides, the round headlight at the front gives it the classic racing touch alongside LED mini indicators and an LED strip rear light.
Its ease of use, lightness, and agility, inherited from the bicycle, make it particularly well suited to the urban environment. The two-wheeler is thinner and lighter than most electric motorcycles in its category.
The light electric motorcycle weighs just 53 kilograms. The electric motor with a peak output of 6 kW and a continuous output of 3 kW sits as a hub motor in the rear wheel. The 700 Wh battery takes up the space where a classic moped’s engine would normally reside in the frame. The Pepper motorcycle currently has a top speed of 70 km/h (43 mph), and they do not specify what autonomy it would officially achieve.
The company stated that “We want to offer a more responsible transportation alternative to people who want to move around easily and with style, in urban and trans-urban environments.” It has already begun working on a new version, with upgraded features such as more power and greater autonomy, which will be homologated in Europe in category L3e-A1 (125cc equivalent).
Once its first electric motorcycle is released to the public, as they say on its website, the next step for the Swiss company is to launch a fund-raising campaign to bring it to market.


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- Snapchat unveils Spectacles 3, its latest camera glasses that shoot 3D video and photos.
- They’re made out of stainless steel instead of plastic, but cost $380.
- Snapchat wrote down $39.9 million in losses on its first version of Spectacles.
Snap on Tuesday unveiled its latest set of smart glasses, which let users record video and pictures in 3D and share them with friends.
At $380 a pair, the new glasses are more than twice as expensive as Snap’s second version. Spectacles 3 are available for preorder, and will be shipped this fall.
Spectacles 3 will be a “limited edition” product, with production just a fraction of the original model.
Apple Inc. and Facebook Inc. are working on AR glasses. Microsoft Corp. sells an AR headset called Hololens. Google launched Glass internet-connected eyewear in 2013, but it flopped as a consumer product.
If AR takes off, building the hardware will be a competitive business. So it makes sense for Snap to test early versions — even if users aren’t really interested yet.


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Source: CAPS to reopen two plants | The Sunday Mail Nov 4, 2018
CAPS Pharmaceuticals – Zimbabwe’s country’s largest pharmaceuticals manufacturer – will reopen two plants that produce drips and penicillin, creating scores of jobs and boosting production by 30 percent.
The pharmaceutical industry has come under the spotlight amid a shortage of medicines.
CAPS CEO Mr Justice Majaka said the two plants will “be back in production in 2019”.
“The company is being resuscitated and it has the most diverse product portfolio in the region, ranging from tablets, injectables, creams, liquids, drips, penicillin and antibiotics.
“There are plans underway to resuscitate two more manufacturing plants for penicillin and drips respectively. The two plants are expected to be back in production in 2019,” said Mr Majaka.
CAPS is getting less than 50 percent of its foreign currency requirements from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, and the company says should this be rectified, it will expand its businesses and eventually wean itself off reliance on central Government.
Mr Majaka said, “With more products being produced, we will be able to export and generate more foreign currency to meet our import requirements and rely less on RBZ allocations. Going forward, there will be even more locally produced products in the market.”
Government support has boosted the company’s capacity and operations, and CAPS has improved its product offerings from 24 in 2017 to over 100 this year.
“Production capacity is at 40 percent. . .We are currently not working with any partners, but the shareholders are in the process of identifying a suitable investor to partner with,” Mr Majaka said.
In April, Indian firm Ajanta Pharmaceutical’s co-founder and vice-chair Mr Madhusudan Agrawal Ajanta said he had signed a letter of intent with Government to take over the firm, promising to bring in new machinery and technology.
The 45-year-old Mumbai-based company operates in more than 30 emerging countries in Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
Of the more than 260 drugs on the Essential Drug List of Zimbabwe, local firms supply around 122, or 46 percent of requirements.
In terms of development and sophistication, the local industry used to be second in Sadc after South Africa. Exports went to Angola, Botswana, DRC, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, the West Indies and Zambia.
Varichem, for example, was once the only company in Sub-Saharan Africa producing generic three–in-one ARVs.
Pharmaceutical Society of Zimbabwe president Mr Portifa Mwendera said last week the resuscitation of Caps was vital for cutting the import bill.
Last month, the sector received $6,7 million in letters of credit from Government. However, the industry says it needs $4 million weekly to return to normalcy.
“We continue to urge Government to provide an enabling environment for the promotion of locally manufactured products,” said Mr Mwendera.


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Amazon received a lot of attention for picking the Washington DC Metro Area as its second headquarters – or HQ2. And they aren’t the only ones. More and more tech companies are following Amazon’s lead and setting up shop around the District of Columbia. Together with Amazon, these companies will need a lot of talented tech workers with skills of the future.
Fortunately for Amazon and the rest, nearly every Representative covering Amazon’s HQ2 geographic footprint is committed to cultivating a local pipeline of tech talent by hosting a Congressional App Challenge.
From Rep Steny Hoyer in Maryland District 5 to Rep Jennifer Wexton in Virginia District 10, and nearly every Member in between, local Members of the House are inspiring students to pursue computer science and STEM careers through local competitions. With so many tech jobs unfilled we need leaders in Congress to inspire the next generation in STEM. A thriving ecosystem of startups and tech companies like Amazon are benefiting from these leaders in the House.
The Representatives Creating a Local Tech Talent Pipeline In DC Metro
Rep Donald Beyer, Virginia 8th District
Rep Anthony Brown, Maryland’s 4th District
Rep Gerry Connolly, Virginia 11th District
Rep Steny Hoyer, Maryland’s 5th District
Rep Eleanor Holmes Norton, District of Columbia At-Large
Rep Jamie Raskin, Maryland’s 8th District
Rep Dutch Ruppersberger, Maryland’s 2nd District
Rep John Sarbanes, Maryland’s 3rd District
Rep David Trone, Maryland’s 6th District
Rep Jennifer Wexton, Virginia 10th District
There are 10 Congressional districts in Amazon’s HQ2 footprint, and all 10 participated in the Congressional App Challenge (CAC). The local tech talent is increasing as more Members of Congress emphasize the importance of computer science and STEM.
STEM-related jobs have grown at three times the rate of non-STEM jobs between 2000-2010, and they continue to grow at an exponential rate. Seven out of the ten largest STEM occupations are computer-related. By 2025, there will be 3.5 million STEM jobs to fill, and many of these may go unfilled due to the difficulty of finding people with the skills in demand. Members of Congress are inspiring future coders in communities all across America through the CAC to mitigate this critical problem.
These organizations support the House of Representatives’ Congressional App Challenge.


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Realme C1 flash sale on Flipkart today at 12PM: Discount, offers and specs
Realme C1 is all set to go on its first flash sale after price hike on Flipkart today at 12PM. All you need to know before purchasing this smartphone.
Oppo's former sub-brand Realme is once again back with its flash sale. The budget smartphone Realme C1 will be up for grab today in India, but this time it will come with a hiked price. The company has decided to increase the price of the smartphone by thousand rupees because of Rupee in trading against the US Dollar.
The company's CEO had revealed on a Twitter post that Realme smartphone is sold on a marginal profit, and soon the company will hike the price of the phone. The Realme 2 was also given a price hike, but the latest flagship Realme 2 Pro didn't receive any price hike. The Realme C1 was launched with a price tag of Rs 6,999, but from today onwards the smartphone will be sell for Rs 7,999.
Realme C1 price and offers
The smartphone will be up for grab today at 12 pm noon. The Realme C1 will be up for sale exclusively on Flipkart. The smartphone will be available for sale in Navy Blue and Mirror Black colors. It will be available in only one variant with 2GB RAM and 16GB storage. First-time online payment with Mastercard will get you an instant discount of Rs 100. Axis Bank credit cardholders can avail a discount of Rs 200.
You can also purchase the Realme C1 with EMI option starting at Rs 266 per month. Under the Jio Realme Bonanza offer, Jio prepaid users can avail benefits of Rs 4,450 along with free 1.1TB 4G data. It also offers coupons from the travel website Cleartrip.
Realme C1 specs
Just to recall, the budget smartphone comes with a 6.2-inch HD+ display along with a notch on the top. The screen also carries an aspect ratio of 18:9. Under the hood, the smartphone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 octa-core SoC, clubbed with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of onboard storage. If that is not enough, then you can expand the storage up to 256GB via microSD card.
The Realme C1 sports a dual camera setup with the combination of a 13MP primary sensor and a 2MP depth sensor along with an LED flash. At the front, it houses a 5MP camera sensor for selfies and video call.
The smartphone is fueled by a large 4,230mAh non-removable battery, it also comes with an AI Power Master feature. The Realme C1 runs on ColorOS 5.1 based on Android 8.1 Oreo.


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You know the crowd’s off at a fashion show when someone sitting in the back wonders aloud if they’re going to make an announcement before the show starts. Or if people are going to stop talking when the models come out. Such was the conversation going on behind us at the Dennis Basso show this afternoon, where about a third of the seats were empty (though standers filled in many of them). The ladies who lunch while drowning in fur, usually in attendance at Basso shows, were mostly absent. One socialite told us many didn’t care to watch a fur parade in These Economic Times. It was so empty, even PETA didn’t show up.
On a day the Dow dropped 300 points, could there be a more inappropriate activity than looking at $20,000 to $50,000 coats? Hell, PETA hardly has anything to worry about! With the socials missing, hard-core fur coats were scarce. Though we saw a fur collar here and there, we counted only two full-length furs — on men. Fur is the bling of clothing, and as Karl Lagerfeld asserted, bling is out.
So what is a fur designer to do in these times, when the things you’ve created for decades — and we say this not in deference to animal-rights activists — go against all sense of propriety? Turn a blind eye to the Dow, credit default swaps, unemployment rates, mortgage-backed securities, and design on. “I put all the economy, Depression out of my brain and decided to create a collection that would be desirable, that people would want, that women would want to feel good in,” Basso told us after the show. “I think if you kept the economy in your brain, it might be a little blah and not so exciting.” But Basso isn’t blissfully ignorant. “I think if you were to say business is spectacular — anyone who’s saying that is putting something in their Wheaties that we don’t know about.”
He’s avoided layoffs by “cutting back on extravagances.” Rather than having a seated dinner for 300 people after his show, he’s only going out with ten friends this evening. Rather than filling his Madison Avenue store with $1,000 worth of orchids each week, he’s using ivy plants. And most important, Basso is bringing his furs to his customers (as we mentioned, they certainly aren’t coming to him). He recently courted customers in Dallas and Houston. Tomorrow he flies to St. Moritz in Switzerland to open a pop-up shop in the middle of the Palace hotel. You know, where the economic crisis only exists outside.


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The Numbers Behind Google’s Online Empire
CEO Sundar Pichai yesterday revealed that more than two million Android devices are actively used around the world and that six of Google’s services have reached over 1 billion users.
The numbers, summed up in the chart below, along with recent product/service introductions (e.g. Google Home or Google Lens) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igTtOA1jcik illustrate the company’s ongoing efforts to move beyond search. As web usage continues to shift away from PCs and mobile browsers to apps and even voice-activated devices, people may not rely on Google search as much as they used to going forward. Considering that search advertising is still the company’s main source of revenue, it would be careless for Google not to cover all bases.
5 Charlie Munger Quotes Every Investor Should Know
Charlie Munger is perhaps best-known as the vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, where he has been Warren Buffett's longtime business partner. As well as holding this position, he also servers as the chairman of the Daily Journal Corporation and is a director of Costco Wholesale Corporation. Munger started his investment career in the 1960s when, Read More


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Inflation remains a global concern, with businesses and consumers fighting against rising costs. Particularly in the UK, inflation has proven to be stubbornly high. Despite these challenges, Unilever managed to increase its turnover by 2.7% to €30.4 billion in the first half of the year, demonstrating the company’s resilience.
“Unilever’s performance in the first half highlights the qualities that attracted me to the business: an unmatched global footprint, a portfolio of great brands, and a team of talented people,”
said Hein Schumacher, the newly appointed chief executive of Unilever. Schumacher, the former head of Dutch dairy and nutrition firm Royal FrieslandCampina, replaced Alan Jope earlier this month. Jope left the position under pressure from activist investors after overseeing Unilever’s unsuccessful bid for the former healthcare unit of drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline, worth $50 billion.


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Major Nelson has posted a preview of the January deals coming to XBox Live, and the big news for Wing Commander fans is the Electronic Arts sale in week three. More than 25 different items, including full Arcade games, will be discounted up to 50%! Hopefully, this includes Wing Commander Arena, since it could potentially bring some big publicity and quite a few new players to the Epsilon Sector. On top of the January 18-25 sale, XBox Live will hold a free weekend from January 28-31. Just in time for the 3.5th anniversary of Arena's release! Can you believe it's already been 3.5 years?
Ring in the New Year with Activision and Electronic Arts
From January 11 through January 17, enjoy a special one-time savings of up to 50 percent on more than 25 pieces of hot Activision content including Call of Duty Map Packs, Guitar Hero Add-ons, popular Arcade titles and more!
Additionally, from January 18 through January 25, fans can enjoy a special one-time savings of up to 50 percent on more than 25 pieces of Electronic Arts content, including fun Arcade games and more! For details, please check your Xbox LIVE Dashboard on January 18.


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This week’s featured new car deals -- the 2011 Ford Escape compact crossover and the 2011 Mazda3 compact -- feature pep and efficiency.
Read This Article
You can't talk on your cell phone in California—home of the wildly popular game "Bluetooth?
The 2013 Ford Fiesta is getting its options grouped neatly into packages, for easier consumer consumption.
For the third year in a row, U.S.


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Porche announced that it added a return policy of 14 days in regards to its debut NFT collection, setting a precedent in the NFT industry.
Furthermore, Porche declared that it will maintain this policy regardless of the tokens’ floor price. Although the customers in the EU and the UK had laws that protected them even before the creation of NFTs, Porche’s announcement that its customers could return NFTs and receive the full amount of what they paid, regardless of the floor price, became a trending topic on Twitter.
The laws in question are called distance selling rules and they apply to downloads and digital books that include in-game acquisitions and books.
Similar to other crypto niches, NFT buyers and sellers are in a grey area in terms of consumer rights. If regulators apply enforcement over NFTs, many projects will be prevented from scamming their customers.
Earlier this week, the Web3 team of Porche launched its NFT, a representation of its model 911 car. However, the sale did not perform as Porche desired. The NFTs in question did not manage to obtain the classic status, having an initial price of 0.911 ETH or approximately USD 1,430. Users could have been put off by the absence of a comprehensible roadmap.
The car brand partnered with Patrick Vogel, a Germany-based 3D artist and designer, to develop an NFT version of the 911 Porche model. Initially, Porche planned to release 7,500 NFTs, however, following its lack of performance, the car designer decided to reduce the number. Right now, there are 2,363 Porche digital tokens circulating at a price of 1.9 ETH.
According to the company’s roadmap, collectors have access to experiences and events which will be announced in the future months.


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A sake brewery has its own microbial terroir, meaning the microbial populations found on surfaces in the facility resemble those found in the product, creating the final flavor according to research published ahead of print in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology. This is the first time investigators have taken a microbial census of a sake brewery.
Many sake makers inoculate with both bacteria and yeast, says corresponding author David A. Mills of the University of California, Davis, but he and his colleagues investigated a sake brewery where inoculation is restricted to a single species, Aspergillus oryzae, at the first of three stages of fermentation.
“The purpose was to be able to ask the question, ‘do the environmental surfaces have microbiota that are similar to those that normally are added to ferment the product?'” says Mills.
And despite the single stage one inoculation, the microbial populations change dramatically at each fermentation stage—koji, moto, and moromi.
“The kojii fermentation is dominated by an inoculated fungus, Aspergillus oryzae, which helps process the rice into smaller, more available sugars,” says Mills. “The Kojii is then diluted with steamed rice and water to form the seed mash or moto. In this stage the alcoholic fermentation commences with yeast and various lactic acid-producing bacteria populations expanding.”
That, says Mills, is followed by the major fermentation in sake. “Yeast perform the alcoholic fermentation, while a range of other bacteria—Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Lactobacillus—consume available nutrients and stabilize the product.”
“At each stage, most of these organisms—with the exception of the added A. oryzae—could also be found on the equipment surfaces, suggesting the house microbiome provides the necessary microbes to carry out the fermentation,” says Mills. “Thus, the environmental conditions are important for controlling these fermentations.”
The results echo those of studies Mills and collaborators have done on other food facilities: an artisanal cheese maker, and wine facilities, he says. He adds that this line of research is currently at the natural history stage where census is taken, and that ecological understanding, the kind of understanding that will enable predictive product improvement, will come later. But he expects this kind of facility monitoring to become the norm.
“Understanding the microbial interface between food facilities and food products in a global way will be important for controlling the safety and quality of many different foods and beverages,” says Mills.
Indigenous bacteria and fungi drive traditional kimoto sake fermentations


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Asus Express Gate Splashtop Appears on Notebooks
The lightweight Linux variant Splashtop that’sÂ pre-installed on some Asus motherboards isÂ bounding over like a playful puppy to a range of Asus notebooks, providing instant-on functions like wireless, web browsing, Skype, etc.Â Good boy!
Since the software runs from the RAM there’s no need for the full OS to boot upÂ – this also means thatÂ it saves thatÂ all important battery life.Â Roll over.Â
I reckon that this and other similar softwareÂ will start popping up onÂ more systems.Â Beg.
Have a goosey at the press jibba-jabba.Â Fetch!
Splashtop comes to ASUS Notebooks Complete range of ASUS notebook models provide ‘instant-on’ Internet and media access May 29, 2008 – SAN JOSE, CA – DeviceVM today announced the release of their award winning Splashtopâ„¢ software on numerous ASUS notebooks.
Splashtop is a light-weight operating system that allows consumers to use their computers seconds after hitting the power button. Models spanning a wide range of segments are to ship with Splashtop pre-installed by ASUS starting in June this year. “The integration of Splashtop into notebooks represents a big step forward in portable computing, where instant ‘on’ and ‘off’ is essential,” said Mark Lee, co-founder and CEO of DeviceVM. “We are pleased to introduce Splashtop to portable computing together with our partner ASUS.” Branded “Express Gate” by ASUS, Splashtop software enables users to browse the web, watch videos, listen to music, chat with friends, share photos, and more – just seconds after turning on their PC. Express Gate is already available on a wide range of PC motherboards from ASUS.
The notebooks announced today are the first to integrate Express Gate for the broad consumer market, including the M70T, M50V and M51T multimedia series and the stylish F8Va/Vr series. “ASUS is always committed to bring customers the most innovative solutions,” said Henry Yeh, General Manager, ASUS Notebook Business Unit. “With Express Gate, users will experience a new, fast, and secure way to surf, chat and play on ASUS notebooks for a new computing experience”
**ASUS booth will showcase Express Gate at Computex in Taipei International Convention Center TF1L & 101B, June 3 – 7. Please come by for more information.


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BANGKOK — There’s no secret, skin color has always been a touchy subject. And it seems, no matter where you go in the world, society is under the impression that lighter is better.
Well, that also seems to be the case in Thailand. Or at least one Thailand beauty company thinks so. Seoul Secret recently released a commercial for their skin lightning pills. If it’s not bad enough that the pills are called Snowz, the commercial shows two women — one, a Thailand celled, the other is a women painted substantially darker looking, feeling sad about her complexion.
The kicker? The tagline claims, “Being white makes you a winner.”
Needless to say, since the not-so Seoul Secret was broadcast, it’s been stirring up a lot of controversy. Now the company claims they weren’t trying to be racist or offend anyone, but plenty of people feel otherwise.
Hey, one parting thought, not only for Thailand but for the rest of the world: When it comes to skin, people don’t need to lighten-up!


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As of October 17, recreational marijuana is legal in Canada. Legal for anyone to grow at home, in small amounts, and legal to purchase, at least for anyone who is inclined to travel and shop at BC’s only licensed establishment, a government-run store in Kamloops.
Mike Farnworth, BC minister of public safety and solicitor general, has warned existing private and non-licensed dispensaries to abide by the rules, meaning they need to go through the lengthy permitting process, and close their doors or face large fines. Only time will tell how many of the non-licensed facilities will continue to operate without going through the process of obtaining a legal permit from the government, which involves applications, background checks and location approvals from city or regional governments.
While this is happening, the status quo will continue. Until the number of government-run or private stores approved and open for business meets the demand for recreational cannabis, those who have been accessing it through other means will continue to do so, whether it is through a relative, friend, non-licensed facility or on a street corner.
October 17 will be a day to celebrate for some legalization advocates, but others see a long road ahead before what many perceive as true legalization actually comes into effect. Buying cannabis from unlicensed facilities that day will still be illegal, so what exactly has changed? Well, people can grow their own at home, but whatever they plant at 12:01 am on October 17 is unlikely to be ready for consumption by that evening.
Oh, and that other new, legal source courtesy of the provincial government available online at bccannabisstores.com, it has a contract with Canada Post for deliveries. Rotating strikes by Canadian Union of Postal workers could begin Monday, October 22, so don’t count your buds before you see them in the mailbox.
The stigma associated with marijuana use may linger for some time before BC residents become accustomed to witnessing people smoking cannabis in public, in the appropriate areas, but the long sought-after freedom and finish line advocates have hoped legalization will bring is still far in the distance.
For non-users, October 17 is just another day. If you’re not buying or growing, what difference does it make if it is legal or not? The one common thread between users and non-users might involve concerns that legalization will lead to more consumption by those under the age of 19. The fact is, similar to anyone at any age who currently uses cannabis, they are already getting it from somewhere, or someone. That source is not going away anytime soon, at least not until the number of licensed stores meets the demand.
And selling or providing cannabis to someone under the age of 19 will fall under the same category as alcohol. That’s illegal, too, and no one ever does that, right?
Shane Carlson is a Powell River resident and editor at Powell River Peak.


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Everyone’s favorite Darkstalkers succubus will be immortalized as as statue this year, planned to release this September. Fans have been holding out for a new Darkstalkers game for years. While the fighting game franchise may have been banished to the depths, its bizarre cast of iconic characters live on through Capcom’s other franchises. While younger gamers may recognize Felica, Demitri and Jedah as characters from Project X Zone and the Capcom VS series, these unique fighters all spawned from the Darkstalkers saga. Possibly one of the most famous characters from the Darkstalkers universe, is that of the buxom succubus Morrigan.
Of the complete Darkstalkers roster, Morrigan as probably appeared in more cross-over titles than any other character from the franchise. The lady-with-the-green-hair makes cameos in the complete Marvel VS Capcom trilogy, Tatsunoku VS Capcom, the SNK VS Capcom/Capcom VS SNK series, Namco X Capcom, and Project X Zone to name a few. While a new Darkstalkers game isn’t coming, Morrigan will make another cameo later this year, as a collectible statue.
Morrigan is currently available to pre-order through the Japanese E-Capcom online store. The collectible piece is hand-painted and sculpted from a single piece of PVC. From toe to right-elbow, the statue stands 240mm/9.4in, and has a wingspan of 270mm/10.6in. According to the E-Capcom page, the Morrigan statue is scheduled to deliver on 9/18, however 4Gamer states that units will begin shipping on 9/25. While voting has since been closed, fans had the opportunity to vote on one of four alternate color schemes to be used as a limited edition version.
Interested fans can pre-order statues for 9,936 yen after tax, or approximately $97.99.
Sources: Siliconera, E-Capcom
Images courtesy of Capcom


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Only a few hours left before tonight’s Apple launch event take place in Cupertino but a leak from its website might have taken some of the limelight away. What made this leak rather interesting is that it originated from Apple’s own website.
It came in the form of product sitemap XML file which listed down all the items that can be purchased from Apple’s website. In general, the listing is nothing out of ordinary but a number of names in the list have seemingly revealed the names of upcoming iPhones that Apple is expected to reveal tonight.
They might sound rather odd at first, so take a deep breath before you proceed. Well, the names of the new iPhones according to the sitemap are apparently iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR.
Alongside these names, the sitemap also revealed that the sizes of the new Apple Watch Series 4will be 40mm and 44mm. As a comparison, the existing Apple Watch Series 3 is being offered in 38mm and 42mm sizes.
Not surprisingly, Apple has swiftly removed the sitemap from its site once the news regarding it begin to spread out. Nevertheless, the folks at ATH who discovered it in the first place have already save the file in which you can take further look through the source link below.


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A boom in demand for its cloud services more than adequately offset a decline in sale of its PCs because of the global chip shortage helped Microsoft Corp to post its most profitable quarter on Tuesday as it comfortably beat expectations of Wall Street for revenue and earnings.
Microsoft predicted a continuation of the growth in its Azure cloud computing business after a quarter for which the company reported a 51 per cent rise in sales.
On the overall, the company reported a 21 per cent rise in revenues for the quarter to $46.2 billion as the number comfortably beast estimates of analysts of about $2 billion, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.
Consumer appetite for cloud-based computing has increased due to the pandemic-driven shift to remote work and has been beneficial for companies including Microsoft, Amazon.com Inc’s cloud unit and Alphabet Inc’s Google Cloud.
Microsoft’s “guidance was off-the-charts strong and it shows the cloud growth story in Redmond is hitting its next gear,” said Daniel Ives of Wedbush Securities.
Microsoft reported a 30 per cent growth in revenues from its “Intelligent Cloud” segment at $17.4 billion, while revenue growth in Azure revenues also beat the 43.1 per cent growth predicted by analysts, according to consensus data from Visible Alpha.
After rising by almost 30 per cent so far this year, the market capitalization of Microsoft now stands at nearly $2.2 trillion. The wider S&P 500 Index rose by 18 per cent in the same period.
The price-to-earnings ratios of Microsoft is now higher than those of tech titans Apple Inc and Google which has raised concerns among some analysts that the value could be overvalued.
“Microsoft’s stock has made a big run since the beginning of the pandemic, and is trading at rich multiples,” said Haris Anwar, senior analyst at Investing.com. “After such a powerful rally, its shares may take a breather, especially when investors are still unclear how the demand scenario will evolve in the post-pandemic environment.”
There was only a 9 per cent growth in the revenue from personal computing, which includes Windows software and Xbox gaming consoles, at $14.1 billion.
There was however a drop in revenues from the company’s Xbox content and services segment which suggests that there is a waning of the pandemic-fueled gaming boom, according to Paolo Pescatore, an analyst at PP Foresight. To better compete with rivals, Microsoft needs to strengthen its presence in the home, he added.
Microsoft has also been affected by the global chip shortage.
“OEM revenue declined 3% and Surface declined 20%,” Microsoft Chief Financial Officer Amy Hood said on a call with analysts. She added that “both were impacted by the significant supply constraints noted earlier in a good demand environment.”
Ives said that the drop in revenues of Xbox content and services could also be because of the chip shortage because a drop in gardware sale also potentially led to a drop in services sale.
“If there’s any lagging part of Microsoft, it’s the consumer piece,” he said. “I think that continues to be a work in progress.”
(Adapted from NDTV.com)


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Overkill has released a trailer for a new character in their co-op shooter The Walking Dead, based on the popular zombie-laden franchise.
Overkill's The Walking Dead has been gestating for a long while. For years the creators of Payday have been harping on about the licenced game, set to be some kind of co-op zombie shooter, but even though its been years since its announcement, we are still no closer to knowing exactly what the game is. No gameplay has hit yet, but over the last few months the developer has been showing off animated shorts about the protagonists in the game. Thus far we've had two and it's time for yet another one.
This time, the developer is showing off Grant, a rather grizzled old man who seems to have an affinity for telling stories to anyone who will listen, including a jawless zombie. The trailer looks great and it's a cute little introduction to the character who is trying to reach his granddaughter. You can check it out here:
It feels about time we should be getting a better idea of what this game is and what it is looking like now but these character vignettes do certainly look good thus far. If they can translate the look and tone of this into the moment to moment, there could definitely be something worthwhile here. There hasn't been a great Walking Dead action game yet, so here's hoping this finally breaks that curse.
Overkill's The Walking Dead is due out in Fall 2018 on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.


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At the beginning of March, Grupa Azoty (Azoty Group), the largest Polish chemical corporation, entered the 3D printing market. Since then, the company has started commercial sales of products used in 3D printing in FDM / FFF technology manufactured in the 3D Printing Materials Center, which are offered under the Tarfuse® brand.
The start of Grupa Azoty in the world of 3D printing came during a turbulent period associated with the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. However, the company reacted quickly to the difficult situation and decided to support two projects developed by volunteers from the 3D printing industry.
The #Drukarzedlaszpitali (3D Printers For Hospitals) project is an initiative that resulted from the desire to help healthcare representatives as well as emergency and uniformed services. The idea of 3D visor printing quickly gained great popularity among volunteers from the additive technology industry, who organized and started distributed mass production at an express pace.
Grupa Azoty, under the support of the #Drukarzedlaszpitali campaign, provides two types of materials, Tarfuse® PLA and Tarfuse® PET-G, free of charge to owners of 3D printer farms producing elements of equipment protecting against contact with the virus.
VentilAid is a pioneering project to create a Polish, low-budget respirator that can be built using elements made on a FDM / FFF 3D printer. Currently, engineers are at the stage of the first prototype and are constantly working towards further development of the device.
The Ventil Aid device was called by the creators of the last chance respirator, and its undoubted advantage is the fact that the cost of creation is only PLN 200. In addition, thanks to the possibility of creating structural elements in 3D printing technology, you can build it bypassing external suppliers.
Grupa Azoty supports the work of Polish engineers, which is why it has already sent the first, free batch of Tarfuse® PLA and Tarfuse® TPU filament, allowing them to work on a second prototype using the highest quality materials.


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Another day, another iOS 9 software update released by Apple. The company that prides itself on being the example of cutting edge, trendy technology has found itself having to do major rehab on its latest update. Personally, it is sad to see the transition from updates in order to be progressive and cutting edge to updating in order to perform some damage control. It seems that they are adding these new capabilities to their software update in order to keep their customers, that are experiencing problems with the new software, happy. New capabilities such as Arabic Suri Translations, updated animations, Phone number syncing, etc. are all examples of Apple desperately trying to detract from the obvious issues, until a new software can be released with zero issues.
Don’t get me wrong, I am a “way of life” Apple customer. That is that every piece of technology I own is Apple:
- Macbook Pro
- Desktop Mac
So basically Apple can do nothing wrong in my eyes., but they need to seriously work out this issue, and segway back into their glory.


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DE KALB ILL. - Alloyd Co. Ltd. will open its fourth thermoforming plant, in Branford, Conn., in April. The 26,000-square-foot, leased facility will house eight thermoforming machines and employ as many as 30 by year's end, said Tom Kramer, director of business development.
Alloyd, which builds all its own thermoforming machines at De Kalb, custom manufactures blister packaging and other plastic packaging in De Kalb; Spartanburg, S.C.; and Fontana, Calif. Its markets include consumer electronics, automotive, cosmetics, toys - ``just about everything,'' Kramer said.
With $40 million in sales, Alloyd placed 13th in Plastics News' recent ranking of North American thermoformers. Companywide it employs 275 and operates 60 presses in pressure forming and thin-gauge thermoforming. Alloyd also manufactures and markets its own line of sealing equipment.
Wingate's Century Products unit for sale
MACEDONIA, OHIO-Wingate Partners has put its Century Products Co. child car seat and juvenile products unit up for sale.
Century of Macedonia claims to be the largest U.S. car seat producer and has been making strollers, walkers, children's furniture and similar products for more than 30 years.
Century announced the proposed sale March 1. Wingate has retained Bear Stearns & Co. of New York ``to study strategic alternatives for Century.'' Century officials declined to comment on the possible sale and would not describe details of the firm's operations.
The company in the fall of 1993 laid off about 200 workers at its Perry Township, Ohio, plant, near Painesville, Ohio, where it had more than 20 injection presses. It kept about 60 workers there while it consolidated some operations at Macedonia.
The Akron Beacon Journal reported March 2 that Century recalled 30 workers to Perry Township in February and another 60 were expected to be rehired in summer. The Akron, Ohio, newspaper estimated employment of the firm at 600.
Nimbus expanding new CD plant in Utah
PROVO, UTAH - Nimbus CD International Inc. plans to expand its recently opened compact disc manufacturing plant in Provo.
Nimbus, based in Charlottesville, Va., opened the 40,000-square-foot plant in September. The plant now is near full capacity at 15 million units per year.
Nimbus operates four molding/manufacturing lines, with another six lines planned for the second quarter of this year. Each line produces discs in 41/2-second cycles. Nimbus is experimenting with 4-second cycles.
The plant has room to expand capacity to 37.5 million units annually. At that level, the facility nearly will double the company's U.S. manufacturing capability and raise its worldwide capacity by one-third.
The Provo site was selected because of its proximity to R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co.'s Global Software Services operations in Provo, with which it formed a strategic alliance a year ago. Donnelley made a minority equity investment in Nimbus.
Terms of the agreement called for the construction and operation of a new, multiline manufacturing operation by Nimbus and an exclusive manufacturing agreement with Donnelley.
Plastipak adds blow molding facility
PLYMOUTH, MICH. - Plastipak Packaging Inc. of Plymouth expanded its blow molding operations by opening a 108,000-square-foot facility in Atlanta.
The company invested $1.8 million in the plant, according to information released by the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. The plant is the company's ninth facility. Company officials could not be reached for comment.
Plastipak blow molds containers and beverage bottles, and had sales of $302 million for the fiscal year ended Oct. 31. The company ranked fifth in the Plastics News 1994 blow molders survey.
Rotonics nixes Mexican joint venture
GARDENA, CALIF. - Rotonics Manufacturing Inc. has dropped plans to form a joint venture with a Mexico City rotational molder, blaming the economic and political turmoil in Mexico.
Rotonics, one of the largest U.S. rotomolders, had agreed to form the venture a year ago with Plastinak SA de CV. Gardena-based Rotonics announced March 9 that it might reconsider the plan if conditions in Mexico stabilize.


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Material handling systems manufacturer Intelligrated acquired rival FKI Logistex Group for $40 million.
Cincinnati-based Intelligrated roughly tripled its size by purchasing St. Louis-based FKI’s North American and South American operations from its parent, United Kingdom-based Melrose plc. It will also have facilities in 10 states, as well as Canada and Mexico, according to a press release.
The combined company will manufacture and support sorters, palletizers, fulfillment systems and other material handling products and services. Former FKI Logistex President Stephen Ackerman will remain in a senior management role.
“This agreement signals a new era for us all, bringing together our respective resources, technologies and expertise, becoming the leading single-point provider of automated material handling solutions,” said Ackerman.


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Pelican Town in Stardew Valley is already cute, but with the help of Dreams, it is even more so in 3D mode.
Built in dream Pass cTooshi, You can take a stroll in the towns of Stardew Valley.
There is no indoor area, but it looks like a fun way to experience 3D Pelican Town and its characters.
Media Molecule's Dreams was released on PS4 yesterday, if you have this game, you can try it yourself.
-Tooshi (@TooshiTV) February 13, 2020
Speaking of Pelican Town, developer Eric Barone is working on two new games, one of which is set in the same universe. The other will "establish a connection with Xinglu Valley in some way", albeit on a smaller scale.
Since its first release in 2016, the game has sold more than 10 million copies.


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Effects of inflation from globalization
In advanced economies, inflation has dropped by as much as 1/2 a percent in non-oil import prices, as stated in the article How has globalization effected inflation on the New Economist web site. The article refers to global excess capacity leading to lower prices, in turn resulting in possible deflation. The article also refers to monetary policy of industrial countries making the effects of globalization only temporary, because of single digit inflation targets by economic leaders. As in most cases globalization benefits market competition and stabilizes price fluctuation.
Posted by Frank at 4/15/2006 10:22:00 PM


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YORKTON, Saskatchewan, Canada — SecurTek Monitoring Solutions Inc. will buy about 1,300 accounts from four Canadian monitoring providers for roughly $1.1 million, the company announced today.
SecurTek will purchase 151 customer accounts from Detect Security; 296 accounts from Astro systems; 225 accounts from AE Security and 631 accounts from Armax Security. About 70-percent of the accounts are residential customers, SaskTel Communications Manager Andy Tate tells SSI.
“Two of the companies were looking to sell their accounts” he says. “We were providing wholesale monitoring services for Astro Systems and AE Security. Our dealer program provides options for those looking to sell, retire or generate cash flow.”
SecurTek does not compete with its dealers because it doesn’t have its own sales or installation teams, Tate says.
The company will offer its managed home automation solution, which helps customers reduce energy consumption, says Tate. Additionally, the company provides video verification and monitoring solutions and wireless and personal emergency response services.
Tate adds that SecurTek is actively acquiring accounts throughout Canada and the United States.
Ashley Willis is associate editor for SECURITY SALES & INTEGRATION. She can be reached at (310) 533-2419.


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Xiaomi is all set to launch a new Mi CC9 Pro smartphone next month. At the same time, the company is also expected to launch a new Mi Watch and Mi TV 5 series. Read more to find about Xiaomi Mi Watch, Mi TV 5 Series Price in India, Specifications, and Features
Price and Availability
Both the Mi Watch and Mi TV 5 series are expected to be launched on November 5. As of now, there is no information about the Indian price and launch date.
Highlights and features
The Mi Watch will be available in Black and Silver color options with matching bands. It also features an AMOLED display and an Apple Watch-like crown on the right side.
The upcoming smartwatch is tipped to run the WearOS. A cellular version is likely to come with eSIM support.
ON the other hand, the Mi TV 5 series will feature a 4K QLED panel with quantum dot technology for better light efficiency and a wider color spectrum. It will also offer a 108 percent NTSC wide color gamut.
Additionally, the Xiaomi Mi CC9 Pro will also be launched at a price a little higher than CNY 1,799 (approx Rs 18,000).
According to recent leaks and rumors, the upcoming handset will be powered by a Snapdragon 730G processor and 6GB RAM.
The smartphone will be equipped with 30W fast charging support. It is tipped to sport a curved screen display by Visionox.
The highlight of the Xiaomi Mi CC9 Pro a five-camera set up with a 108-megapixel Samsung ISOCELL Bright HMX sensor. The 1/1.33-inch sensor will be able to capture extra light for better images.
Additionally, users will be able to capture up to 6K (6016 x 3384pixels) videos at 30fps. Whereas the Tetracell technology combines four pixels as one to minimize noise and improve color accuracy.
What do you think of the price and specs of the new wearable and smart TV? Share your views with us in the comments section below.


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Google has said that it is going to continue contributing to the slow death of Adobe Flash next month by updating Chrome so that it freezes all Flash media by default. The company says performance and battery life will be improved as a result.
New figures have revealed that Internet Explorer is still retaining its title as the most-used web browser on Earth, beating both Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox to the top. Loathed by many users, it will soon be replaced with Microsoft Edge though.
Microsoft has confirmed on Sunday night a new vulnerability affecting every version of its browser Internet Explorer. The once popular browser now equates to 26 percent of the internet browsing market.
one of the biggest barriers for blind and visually impaired people is transportation. It has impacted education, employment, and social aspects of the blind and the visually impaired. That is changing.
You could be forgiven for thinking that computer design had become more like fashion design reading the information about the new Windows and Apple systems. "Market wisdom" is pitting the boxes against the phones.
When working in Gmail it can be frustrating to click on the email address link of a friend or business client only to find you see Microsoft's Outlook Express or similar open up with the address pasted in the send field.
If there’s any Google product which is undersold to the point of being almost invisible, it’s Google TV. For a company which usually does things well even when they flop, Google has really been dragging its chain on the TV side.
A new report suggests that Google's Chrome 15 is the world's most-used web browser. The global analysis showed that Chrome took 23.6 percent of the market, while Microsoft's Internet Explorer 8 garnered 23.5 percent.
The somewhat-hyped, but interesting, Chrome OS is said to be ready for launch in the fall. This is a lightweight computer operating system, not a PC-style system, the same sort of monster as a Windows OS.
IE, Safari and Chrome are proprietary software. Firefox is Google-affiliated. But nothing is “just a browser” any more. They’re also marketing tools. Google’s Chrome is seen as both a defence against Microsoft and a possible offense.


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First world governments around the world, including Canada have come down on the side of Net Neutrality (the idea that internet providers can not advance or block one website or stream). The notable exception to this is the United States under President Trump’s appointed FCC leader (and former Verizon executive) Ajit Pai, which has eliminated the Obama era rules protecting an open internet in December 2017.
The Republican / Ajit Pai / Trump argument is that the infrastructure is owned by the internet providers so they should be able to do what they want with it. The opposing view, held by most citizens is that the internet is like electricity or a phone; charge for the service but it is not the providers concern what is or is not connected.
In a world without Net Neutrality the sky does not fall, but it is well documented that creativity and business innovation are slowed. Put simply, large incumbent players (think Amazon, NetFlix, Twitter…) can easily pay internet providers to provide their fastest connections. Startup firms however cannot pay internet providers to deliver their content so they get a slower, second class, internet experience which necessarily results in consumers usually opting for the faster options:
In response to this, several notable Governments have said that while they cannot overrule the federal laws, they can refuse to buy services from a internet providers that are not Net Neutral.
Specifically New York and California are:
“…Defying the FCC… (with) orders requiring state officials to purchase Internet service only from broadband companies that abide by the principles of net neutrality…”
The large states pay many hundreds of millions of dollars per year for internet service to and from their thousands of state offices. These are contracts that no-one wants to loose.
In addition AT&T is the first of what is expected to be many Internet Provider companies that is publicly saying the want to see ground rules that MOSTLY protect Net Neutrality. Most observers, while supportive of any statement on Net Neutrality, are cynical of AT&T’s intentions:


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The five-year deal will see afb produce and market the official Manchester United Credit card in Kenya.
The afb Manchester United Credit Card will provide target the club's estimated 5.5 million fans in the African state.
Set up in 2009, afb employs more than 1,500 people in countries across Africa, servicing more than 45,000 customers.
It has a presence in Kenya and Ghana with launch plans in other countries like Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
The firm has an annual turnover of $20m - £13m.
United managing director Richard Arnold said: "We are pleased to be partnering with afb as this will give our fans in Kenya another way to engage with their favourite team.
"The Club has always had fantastic support from our fans in Kenya and we are pleased to be able to offer them such a great product.
"afb is a new and exciting company that has been progressively growing since establishing in 2009.
"The Club has been impressed by its determination for growth in its industry, quickly expanding into numerous markets. They are an ambitious company that is committed to promoting responsible banking and we are looking forward to a successful partnership."
afb chief executive Karl Westvig said: "We want to give Manchester United supporters the opportunity of getting closer to their club, and we hope that the millions of fans come and enjoy this unique offering.
"We are expecting a significant amount of fans to apply for the limited edition MUFC credit card in the coming months."


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Apple Claims that the iPhone 14 will be Produced in India
Apple will make its latest iPhone 14 in India as the tech giant moves some of its production out of China.
New Delhi: Apple said on Monday that it will make its latest iPhone 14 in India, as the tech giant has moved some of its production out of China.
The company launched the flagship iPhone 14 at an event earlier this month, focusing on security updates rather than flashy new tech specs, with the exception of a new watch that focuses on adventure.
“The new iPhone 14 lineup offers innovative new technologies and important security capabilities. We are excited to manufacture the iPhone 14 in India,” Company said in a statement.
JPMorgan analysts expect Apple to shift about 5% of iPhone 14 production from the end of 2022 to India, which is the world’s second-largest smartphone market after China.
JPM analysts said in a note last week that Apple could make one in four iPhones in India by 2025.
Read More News Updates Visit our Site InsightFello.


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China Green Agriculture (CGA) announced it expects to exceed analysts’ estimates for fourth quarter revenue thanks to market share gains.
China Green Agriculture, Inc. [[CGA]], a producer and distributor of humic acid, today announced that the Company expects to exceed the high end of its previously announced revenue guidance of $32.8 million to $33.3 million due to strong sales from its green fertilizer products in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2009. The Company now expects revenues in excess of $34 million for fiscal year 2009; a record for the company. Fiscal year 2009 and fourth quarter financial results will be reported in mid-September 2009.
“We are extremely pleased with our business momentum which enabled us to exceed our previously announced revenue guidance for the 2009 fiscal year,” stated Mr. Tao Li, Chairman and CEO of China Green Agriculture. “China Green Agriculture continues to gain market share while further establishing our position as a leading green fertilizer player in our industry. We are confident that our extensive distribution network, cohesive marketing strategy and sustained market demand for our green fertilizer products, will enable us to deliver incremental revenue and earnings growth for our company during fiscal year 2010.”
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Liberty Tire is now making fuel out of car tires at its Braddock production plant. Within the last six months, the company converted its crumb rubber production facility in western Pennsylvania to manufacture rubber chips that power plants can burn along with coal or biomass.
When tire rubber is heated enough, it actually burns cleaner and hotter than coal, said Liberty’s CEO Jeff Kendall.
“Converting scrap tires to fuel has actually been around for decades,” he said. “It’s the oldest good use of scrap."
The biggest customer for Braddock’s tire fuel is Niagara Generation in New York.
Liberty collects and processes about 2.8 billion pounds of tires annually — the equivalent of 140 million tires from passenger cars.
Besides fuel, the company also makes crumb rubber and rubber mulch for applications such as playgrounds and sports fields.
This week, Liberty announced it signed a deal with Hertz, its first nationwide car rental contract for the Pittsburgh-based recycling company.
Already, the company has deals with Sam’s Club, Bridgestone and Firestone, and Walmart, which also sells mulch, rubber mats and toilet plungers made from Liberty’s recycled tires.


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(Alliance News) - Tekcapital PLC on Thursday said its investee Salarius has teamed up with food ingredients distributor FXM Ingredients Inc to sell MicroSalt in Mexico.
MicroSalt is a low-sodium salt developed and manufactured by Salarius. Tekcapital holds a 92% stake in Salarius.
The Oxford-based intellectual property investor stated Salarius has signed a partnership agreement with FXM to lead business-to-business sales and marketing of MicroSalt in Mexico and Latin America, highlighting that the partnership marks the first time the salt will be sold outside the US.
Tekcapital noted that in Mexico 2020 revenue in the snack food segment is projected to be USD5.68 billion, with the Mexican market is expected to grow annually by 9.1%.
"We are looking forward to working with FXM to bring the full flavor-low sodium benefits of MicroSalt to Mexican consumers to help lower their sodium intake. Our collaboration with FXM will introduce MicroSalt to food companies in Mexico and Latin America that could benefit most from our ground-breaking, on-trend and innovative ingredient," said Salarius Chief Executive Victor Manzanilla.
Shares in Tekcapital were trading 23% higher at 14.12 pence each on Thursday morning in London.
By Ife Taiwo; firstname.lastname@example.org
Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.


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The Philadelphia Eagles today announced a wide-ranging marketing partnership with Rovio Entertainment, the creators of the worldwide phenomenon "Angry Birds." This is Rovio's first team sports partnership globally, and Eagles fans can look forward to plenty of Angry Birds fun during the 2012 season. Stay tuned for more details!
Click here to watch a video of Andy Reid's press conference announcing the partnership. Still photos also attached.
Rovio is an industry-changing entertainment media company headquartered in Finland, and the creator of the globally successful Angry Birds franchise. Angry Birds, a casual puzzle game, became an international phenomenon within a few months of its release, and is now the number one paid app of all time. Following this success in mobile gaming, Angry Birds has expanded rapidly in entertainment, publishing, and licensing to become a beloved international brand.


text: Post navigation 1. Wildfire smoke from Canada is currently affecting air quality in major cities across the East Coast, including Philadelphia and New York City. 2. At LaGuardia Airport, air quality levels have surpassed the unhealthy threshold set by the Environmental Protection Agency. 3. Residents of affected areas are advised to take extra precautions in case of further environmental issues. The Supreme Court recently heard arguments in the case of Jack Daniels V. Bad Spaniels. Jack Daniels accuses Bad Spaniels of copyright infringement due to Bad Spaniels using the famous Jack Daniels logo on their whiskey products. The ruling is still pending, and will have lasting implications for users of brands and distinctive logos across the world.


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Arlo Technologies, Inc. says support for HomeKit, Apple’s smart home platform, is now available on the brand’s flagship Arlo Ultra Security Camera Systems that air paired with the Arlo SmartHub (VMB5000).
While Arlo users can already control their Ultra cameras via the Arlo app, HomeKit compatibility will provide added convenience for iPhone and iPad users, according to Tejas Shah, product and chief information officer. Now iOS users will be able to access certain functions of their Ultra cameras in the HomeKit ecosystem using the Apple Home app and Siri voice commands. Additionally, a free-of-charge automatic firmware update is now rolling out for both new and existing Ultra users.
HomeKit allows users to easily and securely control smart home products via the Apple Home app and Siri on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac. All current Arlo Ultra security cameras that are paired with the Arlo SmartHub (VMB5000) will now be able to receive notifications on the Apple Home app when motion is detected.
iOS users can also utilize Siri to quickly activate a HD livestream onto their iPhone or iPad hands-free. With HomeKit, Arlo Ultra users can also set up automations to control other HomeKit-enabled smart home devices. For example, users can set up an automation to trigger HomeKit-enabled lights to turn on at certain times when motion is detected by an Arlo Ultra camera.
The Ultra boasts 4K HDR video quality with color night vision, wire-free setup, a 180-degree diagonal field-of-view, an integrated spotlight and crystal-clear two-way audio with advanced noise cancelation. Pricing starts at $399.99 for the 1-camera system which includes a one-year subscription to Arlo Smart Premier, Arlo’s AI and computer vision powered service that delivers 30-day rolling storage of cloud recordings and personalized detection of people, vehicles, packages, and more.


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APL yesterday announced the launch of the Felixstowe Express Service (FEX), a new weekly service that connects the key ports of China, Europe and Felixstowe – United Kingdom’s (UK) biggest and busiest container port.
APL container ship APL Temasek - Image courtesy: Paul Barker
APL said that the new FEX service marks an important expansion of its Asia-Europe service network as APL begins calling at Felixstowe, one of Europe’s and the UK’s most vital ports. With Felixstowe’s close proximity to the main European shipping lanes; and broad inland transportation options to the rest of UK, the FEX service will provide APL shippers with yet another route of accessing the markets.
The new FEX service will complement APL’s existing port calls to Southampton, offering customers an alternative gateway port into the UK. Through the service, shippers can expect to benefit from shorter transit times from China into the key European markets.


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Indian natural stone exporters have mounted a concerted drive to win a share of the booming Russian market of granite and marble.
Fifteen Indian companies displayed a variety of stone products and processing technologies at the 10th international Expostone-2009 held here on June 23-27. The first big-time Indian participation in the annual Russian stone show offered a welcome contrast to the depressing indifference of Indian business towards Russia.
Indian exports of natural stones to Russia increased from less than million in 2005-2006 to nearly million last year.
The total value of Indian stones sold in Russia is believed to be three times as high, but the bulk of them reach the Russian market through China and other countries.
Indian granites and marbles were used to decorate the newly built metro in Kazan and many public and private buildings in Russia.
"Our immediate goal is to win the Russian market from other exporters of Indian stones," said Chairman of Granite, Natural Stones and Products Panel at CAPEXIL, R. Veeramani, who led the Indian delegation.
The U.S. and Europe have been the main markets for Indian stone exports, valued last year at .35-billion, but the current economic meltdown has badly hit the Indian stone industry. The Russian market of natural stones, buoyed by a construction boom, has been growing by 5 to 10 per cent in recent years.
Mr. Veeramani, who heads the Chennai-based GEM Granites, said India had to work hard to catch up with Chinese and Western companies in Russia.
"Unfortunately, Indian business missed its chance to come to the Russian market when it opened up in the 1990s, and has lost it to the West and China," he told The Hindu.


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Software designer MicroStrategy is set to revamp its reporting of Bitcoin (BTC) holdings each quarter, thanks to a current choice by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB).
Greater openness into their monetary health will be possible owing to this reform, which will allow services like MicroStrategy to state the reasonable worth of their Bitcoin holdings without divulging problems losses if the cryptocurrency’s cost decreases throughout the quarter.
Impairment loss disclosure is a monetary reporting requirement where a business should acknowledge and expose that its properties have actually substantially reduced in worth, generally when their market price falls listed below their tape-recorded worth. It’s crucial for openness and notifies stakeholders about the effect on the business’s monetary scenario, guaranteeing precise representation of possession worths.
A respectable financial investment bank, Berenberg, has actually stressed the significance of this occasion, which might alter how things work for services like MicroStrategy that have considerable Bitcoin holdings.
This modification will offer financiers a more precise monetary photo, which is normally believed to be a good idea for the cryptocurrency market.
Currently, cryptocurrencies are dealt with as intangible properties, leading to conservative accounting practices that adversely effect business revenues throughout crypto cost slumps.
MicroStrategy Business And Operations
MicroStrategy started an enthusiastic journey of considerable Bitcoin financial investments, allocating a substantial part of its treasury holdings for the cryptocurrency. While this strong action highlighted their dedication to development, it all at once laid bare the business’s vulnerability to the ever-fluctuating crypto landscape.
Since embracing this technique in August 2020, MicroStrategy has actually reported cumulative problems losses amounting to $2.23 billion, with the biggest loss of $917.8 million tape-recorded in the 2nd quarter of 2022.
Even if it wasn’t always the case, this considerable loss drew in a great deal of limelights and developed the look that the business’s hidden worth had actually been substantially affected.
Bitcoin (BTC) is presently trading at $25.853. Chart by TradingView.com
Formal Approval And Adoption Timeline
The Financial Accounting Standards Board’s brand-new guidelines, voted on just recently, will allow business to utilize fair-value accounting, permitting them to right away show gains and losses on their earnings declarations.
Formal approval of the brand-new requirements is anticipated later on this year, with business having the alternative to embrace them previously. Michael Saylor, executive chairman of MicroStrategy, invited this guideline upgrade, specifying that it “eliminates a major impediment to corporate adoption of bitcoin as a treasury asset.”
This modification is substantial in motivating broader cryptocurrency adoption within the business sector. While the main application of the brand-new guidelines is slated for 2025, MicroStrategy means to welcome them previously, showcasing its passion to line up with the current accounting requirements and take advantage of their benefits.
Berenberg, on the other hand, holds a beneficial view of MicroStrategy’s potential customers. The bank has actually provided a ‘buy’ ranking for MicroStrategy shares and set a target cost of $510.
According to the most current information, since Thursday, MicroStrategy’s stock closed at $353.07, suggesting strong financier self-confidence in the business’s future capacity.
Featured image from Getty Images


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Earlier today, Nintendo of America officially pulled back the curtain on WiiWare, its downloadable games service. We've fired up a Wii to check it out, and sure enough, there's a new section in the Wii Shop Channel, alongside the Virtual Console and system channels. Nintendo's offering up six games this week, including Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life As a King and LostWinds.
Nintendo of America's executive VP of Sales & Marketing, Cammie Dunaway, compared WiiWare to independent film. "WiiWare lets developers experiment with new ideas and experiences. Combined with our collection of classic Virtual Console games, Wii provides one-stop shopping for the greatest games of the past...and the future." It appears that, like Virtual Console releases, new WiiWare games will launch every Monday in the Wii Shop Channel. Wii owners will be able to find game information, such as release dates and pricing, within the recently released Nintendo Channel.


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Put simply we’re doubling down on our investments in Lightroom and the new Creative Cloud Photography plan and you can expect to see a rich roadmap of rapid innovation for desktop, web and device workflows in the coming weeks, months and years. We also continue to invest actively on the iOS and OSX platforms, and are committed to helping interested iPhoto and Aperture customers migrate to our rich solution across desktop, device and web workflows.
Adobe’s Creative Cloud Photography plan (which includes Photoshop CC and Lightroom) is a $9.99/month subscription, but the app is also available as a standalone purchase.
I personally never needed Aperture or Lightroom, but I know a lot of people who have been using Adobe’s app for several years now. According to Apple, functionalities from Aperture will be integrated with the new Photos app for OS X – the screenshot chosen for the announcement today is interesting.


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Jeffrey and Marylou Ripley like quick trips to different areas of New England, taking in the food, local sights, and just enjoying the different pace and scenery.
Among their favorites: Western Massachusetts, Portsmouth, N.H., and Newport, R.I. But by far their favorite getaway in New England is Portland, Maine, partly because Jeffrey Ripley, a retired commercial fresco painter, used to operate an art studio in the historic city’s downtown district.
“It’s a real restaurant town, and there’s such simple things to do there,” said Jeffrey Ripley, 65, a Pembroke resident. “We try to get up there once or twice a year, usually in the fall or spring. When we get there, I just grab a local paper, look up things to do that day, and we’re set. ”
The Ripleys are part of a demographic tourism operators love: outgoing people 55 years and up, usually with grown children who have flown the coop, and enough disposable income and enthusiasm to visit new places, often during less crowded and less expensive off-season months.
“The over-55 demographic controls the majority of the discretionary dollars circulating through the economy and has a greater level of control over their daily schedule,” said Bill Geist, a tourism industry specialist at Zeitgeist Consulting, which advises tourist organizations across the country. “They have the resources and the time to travel that younger consumers are yet to enjoy.”
Christine Barton, a partner at Boston Consulting Group and tourism expert, said boomers have very set, simple preferences for getting away: visiting museums and art galleries, attending theater shows or concerts, shopping, eating and drinking fine food and wine, and hanging out near a waterfront, no matter the season.
With all that in mind, here are three prime New England getaways.
Easy to get to, and crowded during the summer, Newport opens up during the off-season: Rates at its many hotels and inns drop, seats become available at great restaurants, and the sidewalks along the waterfront and narrow side streets are easier to negotiate.
At the Inns on Bellevue, a small four-building complex with its own little square in downtown Newport, room rates range from $149 to $419 per night during peak tourism season, but fall to $109 to $300 during off-season.
“The empty nesters are a major part of our business in the fall, winter, and spring,” said Paul Galluscio, general manager at the 55-room Inns on Bellevue.
At the 20-room Francis Malbone House, also in downtown Newport, room rates fall by more than 25 percent in the off-season, ranging from $150 to $275 during the week and $195 to $325 weekends.
“This is the type of place that people will come to during the winter and just sit by the fire and read for a while,” said Elizabeth Boxley, a clerk at the Francis Malbone House.
While some of Newport’s famous mansions close after the holidays, a few stay open, including the Breakers, perhaps the best known of Newport’s “cottages” for the uber-wealthy built during the Gilded Age. Newport’s International Tennis Hall of Fame is also open year-round, as are most restaurants throughout the city’s historic downtown district.
This is a place to get a good meal.
In recent years, Portsmouth’s restaurant industry has surged, so much so that there are now more restaurant and conference-center dining seats than full-time residents in the city of 21,300, said Valerie Rochon, tourism director at the Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce.
And, like Newport, the price of staying overnight in Portsmouth falls significantly during the off-season.
At the seven-room Inn at Strawbery Banke, only a block away from Portsmouth’s historic Market Square, room rates during peak-season range from about $160 to $185, but they fall to $110 to $135 during off-season.
Sarah O’Donnell, owner of the Inn at Strawbery Banke, said she has numerous guests over age 55 from the Boston area who stay just for a night or two, largely to walk, shop, and eat in downtown's historic district. Many also attend events at Portsmouth’s Music Hall, a nonprofit performing arts center that has year-round events from opera to comedy shows.
Like Newport, Portsmouth prides itself on decking its downtown with lights and decorations during the holiday season. The downtown Strawbery Banke Museum, a 10-acre, outdoor history museum with historic buildings and period reenactors, hosts “Candlelight Stroll” tours during weekend evenings in December.
Another plus: Visitors to Portsmouth can always dart across the Piscataqua River to shop at the numerous outlet stores in Kittery, Maine.
Another New England city with a waterfront, Portland’s historic downtown area has hundreds of shops and restaurants to choose from year-round. It’s just two hours by car from Boston and is also accessible via Amtrak’s Downeaster train service.
Off-season hotel price can be as low as $79 to $149, said Dale Northrup, owner of the Percy Inn.
“We get many Bostonians up here, no matter what season,” said Northrup. “We also get a lot of boomers, with their season usually starting right after kids go back to school in the early fall. Those visitors generally aren’t beholden to weekends. They can come up any night of the week they want.”
The Danforth, a nine-room inn in downtown, has off-season rates of $129 to $199 per night, down from $229 to $349 during the summer and early fall.
The downtown waterfront, dotted with restaurants and shops, is generally considered the top destination point in Portland. So is the Portland Museum of Art, whose galleries includes works by Winslow Homer and French Impressionists, such as Claude Monet and Pierre-August Renoir.
When Jeffrey Ripley and his wife visit Portland they enjoy the Maine Historical Society in downtown Portland. In their most recent trip, in October, the couple attended a special exhibit called “This Rebellion,” which runs through next spring and showcases collections related to Maine soldiers’ experiences during the American Civil War.
“In New England, you can go to a lot of little cities and towns and have an enjoyable night or two,” said Jeffrey Ripley. “You just look it up, get rates and reservations, and find out what you want to do. As long as you do just a little research, you’ll fill up your time easily.”
Jay Fitzgerald can be reached at email@example.com.


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Marks & Spencer’s new crisp flavour in tribute to King Charles’ coronation
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and live on Freeview channel 276
Marks & Spencer has released a new royal-themed snack in honour of King Charles’ upcoming coronation. Shoppers can pick up a bag of the limited edition coronation chicken flavoured crisps in M&S stores up and down the country.
The supermarket’s new crisp offering will showcase the familiar coronation chicken flavours, which was a signature dish upon the late Queen Elizabeth II’s crowning in 1953. The dish’s flavours come from its creamy curry sauce, which shoppers will now be able to enjoy in crisp form thanks to the retailer’s new release.
M&S’ new coronation item comes after the chosen recipe for King Charles’ big day was revealed on Monday, April 17. At the time, it was confirmed that a quiche would be the official food of the upcoming coronation.
The royal-themed crisp will be available in stores nationwide, with shoppers able to locate them in the food hall area of its stores. Customers can find their nearest spot using the list of stores on the supermarket’s website.
M&S are yet to confirm how long they will be available in stores for, however the limited edition coronation chicken crisps hit stores on Thursday, April 20.
Those wanting to have a coronation-themed picnic with the new crisp flavour can also buy them in a specially curated hamper. Filled with a range of snacks and decorations, the hand cooked potato crisps are just one of the many foods available.
The coronation celebration hamper is priced at £120 and will be available for delivery from the supermarket’s online store from May 4.


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Purse, a startup specializing in helping online shoppers save when paying with bitcoin, has secured $1 million in funding from Barry Silbert’s Digital Currency Group.
Purse lets users sell off their unwanted Amazon gift cards at a discount, in exchange for bitcoins paid by the buyer. Users have reported savings of 10% to 20% on merchandise through the service.
The funding round, reported by CoinDesk, is the startup’s second in roughly a year. Previously, it secured $300,000 in funding to build new apps and improve the user experience. Its platform has since added new merchants in addition to Amazon.
Why Ethereum Needs Layer 2 Solutions More Than EverGo to article >>
As part of the announcement, Purse mentioned a “secret Bitcoin project” called Tritium, which would bring “new value to consumers and partners.”
Tritium, in its physical definition, is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen. Its nucleus contains three components: two neutrons in addition to the standard proton.
The funding is the industry’s first this month, which is likely to be a quiet one. Crypto industry investment this quarter has been relatively sparse, continuing a downtrend that started earlier this year. $27 million in investments have been announced this quarter, versus $117.6 million in Q4 2014, according to Finance Magnates data.
Venture investment has been increasingly shifting toward blockchain technologies, with decreasing focus on bitcoin as a currency.